Scripture mentions six forms of demonic practice!
1. Horoscopes. Seeking direction for your life from any other source than God is idolatry and behind every physical idol is a demon spirit. Isaiah clearly stated God’s position on horoscopes Isaiah 47:13-14.
2. Divination. Briefly defined, divination is the employment of supernatural revelation to predict your future. Any revelation of the future that does not glorify Christ and is not uplifting is the spirit of divination.
3. Necromancy. This term is from “nekros” meaning a dead body and “manteia” meaning divination. Necromancy is the consulting of the dead for direction in life. Saul did this in 1 Samuel 28:8 and God took the throne of Israel form him and he committed suicide the next day. Some charismatic writers are openly talking about consulting the dead for inspiration to write books, etc. It’s a dangerous thing and a heinous sin. 2 Chronicles 33:6.
4. Magic. The magicians of Egypt had supernatural powers through magic. When Moses came before Pharaoh and threw his staff down and it becomes a snake, then the magicians of Pharaoh’s court, Jannes and Jambres, threw their staffs down and their staffs also became snakes. The superior power of God’s Kingdom was evidenced by the fact that Moses’ snake consumed the snakes of the magicians.
The last hurdle the Children of Israel had to clear before they were delivered from Egypt’s bondage was the occult. The last hurdle the church will have to clear is the battle with the occult.
It is to be understood that magic is far more than slight of hand. Magic in the Biblical dimension involves the supernatural power of the occult.
5. Witchcraft. This is the use of supernatural power to place curses or spells on other people. Any person who seeks to control another person beyond the dimension of spiritual authority God has permitted in Scripture is practicing witchcraft.
A mother or father trying to control their thirty year old married son or daughter is practicing witchcraft. The spiritual leader who tries to manipulate people for his own purposes is practicing witchcraft.
6. Sorcery. This is the use of power gained from the assistance or control of evil spirits. Sorcery is distinguished from witchcraft in that it may be practiced by anyone with the appropriate knowledge, using charms, spells or potions. Witchcraft is considered to result from an inherent mystical power and to be practiced by invisible means.
In Acts 19:19 Paul had the Jews and Greeks of Ephesus burn their books “which used curious arts sorcery formulas.”
Spiritual Growth
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